Obituaries: Ester ClaytonEster Clayton, 86, of Dover passed away Thursday, May 22, 2014, at her home. The daughter of Jess and Ethel Freeman, she was born Sept. 29, 1927, in Pelsor. She was a member of the Full Gospel Church. She enjoyed quilting, camping and visiting people. She was preceded in death by her husband, Earnie Clayton; and her parents. Left to cherish her memory is one daughter, Shirley Blackford and husband Larry of Pelsor; two granddaughters, Donna Pro...

Obituary: Michael TaylorATKINS — Coach Michael Taylor, 45, of Perry laid his whistle down Wednesday, May 21, 2014, at the Arkansas Hospice River Valley Home in Russellville. He was born Oct. 15, 1968, in Little Rock, son of the late W. O. and Diana Ruth Cellars Taylor. He loved the Lord, his family, sports, squirrel hunting and good barbecue. He was a 1987 graduate of Little Rock McClellan High School and was a 1993 graduate of Arkansas Tech University. He is survive...

Obituary: Patsy McVayPatsy McVay, 79, of Russellville died Thursday, May 22, 2014, at Saint Mary’s Regional Medical Center. She was born April 28, 1935, in Carden Bottoms to Herschel and Winnie Cooper Gillespie. She was a member of the Arkansas Public Health Association, an avid bowler and loved to travel. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Charles McVay; a brother, John Gillespie; and a granddaughter, Savannah Pledger. Survivors include two da...

Obituary: Janice CornellJanice Ann (Smith) Cornell, 71, of Russellville died Thursday, May 22, 2014, at Saint Mary’s Regional Medical Center in Russellville. She was born May 12, 1943, to James and Claire Buffum Smith in Manchester, N.H. She was preceded in death by her parents. Survivors include her husband, Ronald Cornell; two daughters, Joanne Cornell Evans and husband Charles of Tulsa, Okla., and Jenny Cornell Glover and husband Michael of Cedar Fork, Texas; one ...

Obituary: Isaac AllenIsaac Allen, 24, of Russellville died Tuesday, May 20, 2014, at Washington Regional Medical Center in Fayetteville. He was born March 7, 1990, in Tucson, Ariz., and was a student at the University of Arkansas. Survivors include his parents, Ray and Kathy Allen of Russellville; three brothers and a sister-in-law, Nate Allen of Nashville, Tenn., Jacob and Niki Allen of Fayetteville and Luke Allen of Russellville; two sisters and a brother-in-law...

Obituary: Jack LaneJack Lane, 85, of Russellville died Tuesday, May 20, 2014, at his home, surrounded by his family. The son of Samuel and MayBelle Beck Lane, he was born March 30, 1929, in Felsenthal. He was a 1948 graduate of Coal Hill High School and was an Eagle Scout. Enlisting at the age of 17, he served in the United States Army Occupation — Japan following World War II. He worked in California as a lithographer with Myers Drum Company. After moving to Ru...

Obituary: Loreese WisemanDARDANELLE — Loreese Gayle Wiseman, 66, of Dardanelle died Tuesday, May 20, 2014. She was born Oct. 17, 1947, at Quanah, Texas, to the late William Elmer Whitmire Sr. and Minnie Mae Ritchie. She was a Christian who enjoyed listening to gospel music and was an employee for Russellville Glass Company for 29 years. She was preceded in death by her parents; one daughter, Cloreese Snider; and four siblings, Estline Norman, William E. Whitmire Jr., ...

Obituary: Ima BlankenshipDANVILLE — Ima Jean Blankenship, 88, of Rover departed this life Tuesday, May 20, 2014, at Chambers Memorial Hospital. She was born Jan. 28, 1926, in Briggsville to the late Fred and Bertha Faye Bratten Ornsbey. She was a member of the Plainview First Assembly of God Church and loved working in the church. She was a housewife, loved her garden and making quilts for everyone. She was preceded in death by her husband, Joe Blankenship of 63 years...

Obituary: Edith LeachMORRILTON — Edith V. Leach, 87, recently of Tipp City, Ohio, passed away Thursday, May 15, 2014. She was born on Petit Jean Mountain on March 29, 1927, to the late A.C. Caudell and Nancy E. (Evans) Caudell. She will be greatly missed and was much loved by her husband of 67 years, Fred Leach; a son, Fred (Gene) Leach Jr. of West Jordan, Utah; a daughter, Deborah and husband Doug Gross of Tipp City, Ohio; six grandsons, Rodger and wife Megan Lea...

Obituary: EffieGene StapletonDANVILLE — The Lord called a sweet servant home May 19, 2014. Dorothy EffieGene Morris Stapleton, 81, lived a complete and Christ-centered life. Her passing leaves great sorrow, but her joy lives on within her family. Nothing on this earth was more important to her than her family. Her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren brought her great happiness, and she counted all of her family great blessings from the Lord. At age 16 she beca...

Obituary: Dennis HillOZARK — Dennis Ray Hill, 63, of Ozark, went to be with the Lord on May 19, 2014. He was an engineer for Jack Burge Construction in Fayetteville for several years and retired from Arkansas Tech University where he was Director of the Physical Plant. He was born Aug. 12, 1950, in Altus to Mary Alice Moten Hill and Herman Pleas Hill. He was preceded in death by his parents. He was a graduate of Ozark High School and earned his Bachelor’s degree i...

Obituary: Jack CurtisJack Michael Curtis, 76, of Russellville departed this life Monday, May 19, 2014, at his home. He was born in Little Rock on July 8, 1937, to Jack William Curtis and Mildred Lawrence Curtis. He is preceded in death by his parents and one brother. He was an avid hunter and fisherman as well as an amateur radio operator. Survivors include his beloved wife of 13 years, Trish Curtis; his beloved dog, Shaynee; three sons; one stepson; two daughters...

Obituary: Jordan BagbyDARDANELLE — Jordan Mikol Bagby, 10, of Dardanelle died Friday, May 16, 2014, at the Arkansas Pediatric Facility in North Little Rock. He was born July 30, 2003, in Russellville to Patricia Bagby. Survivors include his mother, Tricia Bagby Loaeza of Dardanelle; brothers, Kentrel Scott of Russellville and Alex Felipe Loaeza of Dardanelle; sisters, Jessica Scott and Shynece Scott, both of Russellville; grandparents, Eddie and Hattie Bagby of Dar...

Obituary: Paula HamiltonCLARKSVILLE — Paula Fleming Hamilton, 81, of Clarksville died May 19, 2014, in Little Rock. She was born Aug. 28, 1932, in Mountain Top to the late Tom and Clara McCartney Fleming. She was a homemaker. She was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Finis Fleming and sister, Patsy Kellan. She is survived by her husband of 61 years, Louie Hamilton; son, Gary and wife Pam Hamilton of Clarksville; daughter, Pam and husband Dennis Everett of Ox...

Obituary: Jane CrinerJane Ellen Criner, 66, of Russellville died Sunday, May 18, 2014, at her home surrounded by her friends. She was born May 2, 1948, in Russellville to James Virl and Jewell Holladay Criner. She was a member of First Baptist Church in Russellville. She was preceded in death by her parents. Survivors include her sister and brother-in-law, Sarah and Richard Allen of Rock Hill, S.C.; two nieces, Alison Van Dyke of Kansas City, Mo., and Andrea Van D...

Obituary: Leona DemmittLeona Faye Demmitt, 88, of London, formerly of Carden Bottoms, passed away Monday, May 19, 2014, at her home surrounded by her family in London. The daughter of William and Dulcie (Hoppis) Apple, she was born Aug. 13, 1925, in Carden Bottoms. Leona married Jack Demmitt on Nov. 24, 1942, in Dardanelle. She was a homemaker and a member of the Baptist Church. She enjoyed quilting, gardening, canning, cooking and spending time with her grandchildr...

Obituary: John AllanJohn “Jeep” William Allan Jr. passed away on the morning of Monday, May 19, 2014, at St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center. He was 83 years old. Jeep was born May 30, 1930, in Gillespie, Ill., to John William Allan Sr. and Mildred Mason. Jeep began his career in the aluminum extrusion business and eventually went on to own and operate Arkansas Wood Doors, where he worked until his retirement in 1992. After retirement, Jeep could most often be fou...

Obituary: Jessie PayneCLARKSVILLE — Jessie A. Payne, 87, of Oark died May 16, 2014, in Clarksville. She was born June 19, 1926, in Lake Worth, Fla., to the late E.R. Lowe and Verna Huff Lowe. She is preceded in death by her parents; husband, Rev. George Payne; brothers, Earnest and Donald Lowe and sisters, Hazel Layport, Doris Lowe and Joy Lowe. She is survived by her sons, Jonathan and wife Linda Payne of Magazine, David and wife Sherri Payne of Clarksville, Steve...

Obituary: Katherine HilburnATKINS — Katherine Hilburn, 56, of Atkins passed away Tuesday, May 13, 2014, at home. Memorial service will be Saturday, May 24, 2014, at 2 p.m. at Bethany Missionary Baptist Church in Atkins with Bro. Eddie Rogers officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Bethany Missionary Baptist Church c/o Loneta Rodgers 504 Davis Road, Atkins, AR 72823. Online obituary and condolences are available at www.lemleyfuneral.com.

Obituary: Dean MotleyDean Motley, 78, of Russellville died Saturday, May 17, 2014, at Legacy Heights Nursing Home. He was born Oct. 19, 1935, in Van Buren to Merl and Della Joiner Motley. He was a member of Calvary Temple Assembly of God. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Frances Louise Motley, brother, Jay Motley and sister, Maxine Motley Taylor. Survivors include two sons, David and Danny Motley; three daughters and one son-in-law, Deana Adams and h...